Therapy Dogs Help Kids Get Vaccination In San Diego

It’s been about two months since the COVID vaccine was licensed for children aged 5 to 11.

Since the procedure can be intimidating, particularly for little children, a local hospital enlisted the help of “man’s best friend” to help put children at ease at the Rady Children’s Hospital vaccination site.

Islay and Bella have been volunteering at the hospitals to comfort children receiving vaccinations.

Each kid has a unique experience when they enter the room to receive a vaccine.

Some, like Sorushiie Arora, are calm, serene, and composed, while others, like Emma Smith, are a little apprehensive at first.

Rady Children’s Hospital, on the other hand, has a hidden weapon — 15 of them, to be exact — that is adorable, cuddly, and reassuring, and is part of a canine therapy program. The handlers of Islay and Bella offer to accompany them around the room, paying special care to children who are afraid of needles.

About 15 dogs cycle through the vaccine clinic, each with its own trade card that is given to the children so they can take it home with them and remember how much fun they had.

Parents may help their children prepare for the vaccine by discussing it weeks before their visit, according to health professionals. They’re encouraged to be open and honest, explaining that the shot may pinch or hurt, but that the discomfort will be brief. Adults may bring a comfort object, such as a blanket, teddy animal, or iPad, to assist distract the children.

The dogs will remain at Rady for as long as they are needed, according to hospital officials.